Even before I ever came to the U.S., I'd heard the legends of the White Rim Trail. It's not only an iconic mountain bike adventure, but also a route with a deep history of FKT attempts that I've followed throughout my career. It's incredibly special to see my name alongside, and ahead of, some amazing athletes. Next time, though, I'd like to slow things down a bit and take in the views.
The Million Dollar Highway is a narrow, two-lane road that runs above a deep gorge, with sheer rock walls on one side and an unguarded drop on the other. Drivers experience awe-inspiring views of 14,000-foot peaks as they navigate this perilous route.
"Our heritage is rooted in building gear for people who live and thrive in the mountains, and that includes our own team. Many of us ride; our athletes ride. Mountain biking is part of our culture," Ashley Anson, VP Design at Arc'teryx, said.
The 2025-26 winter saw extreme weather, with the eastern half experiencing consistent cold and heavy snowfall, while the western half endured record warmth and a lack of snowfall.
The core idea here isn't gimmickry. It's composure. Specifically, the idea that a calmer, more composed ride creates speed, and that a platform intentionally designed around 32-inch wheels can deliver that in a way a scaled-up 29er simply can't.
South Korea doesn't immediately come to mind when you picture world-class singletrack, but with South Korea being mostly mountains, it makes sense that there would be plenty of mountain biking to uncover. When Giant Bicycles athlete Sascha Kim touched down in Seoul, he found himself connecting with a mountain bike scene bursting with life, a tight-knit community, and some seriously great trails.
For 2026, the Superior Peak ships in a mixed wheel configuration (29" front, 27.5" rear). This is what people have been asking for, and Ari has delivered. Riders who prefer a matched setup can still run a full 29" configuration front and rear. Paired with 200mm of travel and Ari's Tetra Link suspension platform.
Kona is one of the brands that seems to recognize this more than most and has maintained a healthy selection of affordable hardtails in its lineup for years. After all, the brand started out and built its early reputation on hardtails. And despite some uncertainty surrounding its future, the rider-owned brand isn't forgetting its roots. For 2026, Kona has refreshed three of its most accessible entry-level hardtail models with updated geometry and size-specific wheel sizing to improve handling, fit, and stability for riders just starting out on their mountain bike journey.
We are all familiar with the idea of a library. You go, check out a book, read said book, and return the book when you are done. Yes, there is a bit more mixed in there, such as attaining a library card, due dates, and late fees, but I'm sure you get the general idea. We all know how libraries work.